I’m going to die. Probably not today, but someday. A few of my surviving relatives would prefer to toss my dead body into the river and celebrate with a party, but I’ve made legal arrangements for my proper burial. There still will be a glorious celebration.
End-of-Life Policy
I have a policy through Bankers Life Insurance that pays $15,000 at my death. The beneficiary is a cute guy I call Studley, and we have similar policies between us. If he goes before I do, my son will receive the money. I trust him to find a cheap but unused casket and haul me to the Wendell Cemetery to be buried next to my parents in Section 18, Block 2. He can spend the rest of the money on an elaborate party with festive live music, tables laden with copious quantities of delicious food, and an open bar with the best drinks and fine wine. There will be laughter, storytelling, and gallant toasts to my memory. Loud sobbing and mournful wailing will be permitted on an intermittent basis. He can keep the change.
Pre-Paid Plot
My instructions are written and included in my Will, and burial expenses will be minimal. My father bought several cemetery plots in 1959 for my siblings, my mother, himself, and me. I’m the only one still alive. A few years ago, I commissioned a bench to honor my parents and brothers, and the bench will be my headstone. Per my written instructions, my first name will be engraved before Ambrose and the dates of birth and death will be added. Easy assignment. Cue the band and start the party.
Insurance Gamble
My end-of-life insurance policy costs $90 a month. If I get hit with a wine truck and die tomorrow, the insurance company loses almost $15,000. But, I’ll be dead so I won’t care. However, I resemble my paternal grandmother, and she lived to be 92 and still worked crossword puzzles until the day she died. If I live that long, the monthly payments will exceed $15,000, and the insurance company would be reimbursed plus gain additional profit. To break even, I need to die within 15 years. I’m good with that because I’ve had a splendid, abundant, and spirited life. I’m grateful.
Have a plan.
My sweet mother was in hospice care twice, and each time I organized the plans for her funeral. The process was painful. I hope to reduce the stress for my loved ones by having everything arranged and pre-paid. Their only concern will be who gets my prized collection of finger puppets and clown noses. I hope they don’t fight.
Kudos for your pre planning, because few of us do it. We have been in the process – for two years! COVID interrupted it where we should have accelerated it! We don’t have a family plot so that was part of the hang up – we actually don’t have too many choices and, where we live, $15,000 wouldn’t buy us all that much. People don’t realize just how expensive funerals can be. We found that out when we had to make arrangements in 2018 for my mother in law and the type of funeral we know she would have wanted- fortunately, not a sudden need.
I agree with you. I’m fortunate my father bought plots back in 1959.
I don’t have much family and those that have gone before me have been cremated per their wishes. I chose Medcure. Which is free! It is a body donation and then cremation. Then cremated remains are either returned to family or scattered. You can also still have organ donation prior to Medcure picking up the body. It’s a good option for me and I can spend the money my estate would have had to pay on travel now! Ruth in Oxnard Ca
Excellent plan, Ruth. I’ll look into that. I’m an organ donor, but I don’t think they’ll want my liver.